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Trip from Anaconda, MT to Great Falls, MT

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 57m

Distance

178.1 mi

287 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$28

one way

EV Charging

Good

8 stations

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 47m ★
6 AM
2h 58m
8 AM
3h 20m
10 AM
3h 6m
12 PM
3h 3m
3 PM
3h 7m
5 PM
3h 19m
8 PM
2h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Anaconda, MT, MT

Anaconda, MT

Regan Dsouza

city in and county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States

Great Falls, MT

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Anaconda, MT to Great Falls, MT covers 178.1 miles and takes about 2h 57m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 15, I 90, Pintler Veterans' Memorial Scenic Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 153.5 miles on I 15. At current regular gas prices, budget about $28.22 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

89 miles from Anaconda, MT

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 57m. Total distance: 178.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 57m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 57m highway drive covering 178.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 15 and I 90. The longest continuous stretch is about 153.5 miles on I 15.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 15 is the longest continuous segment at about 153.5 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 15 and I 90. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Ash Street.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 2h 57m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Ash Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MT 1 / East Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 7.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 8 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | Ash Street

Turn left onto Ash Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | MT 1 / East Park Avenue

Turn left onto MT 1 / East Park Avenue

Navigation decision point

4
7.7 mi into trip | ~8m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

7
26.5 mi into trip | ~28m in | I 15

Take the exit onto I 15 toward I 15 North: Helena

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 129 Toward I 15 North: Helena
5
175.3 mi into trip | ~2h 52m in | I 15 BUS

Take the exit onto I 15 BUS toward I 15 Business, US 89 South, MT 200 East

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 15 Business, US 89 South, MT 200 East

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 15 153.5 mi 2h 30m
I 90 13.4 mi 12m
Pintler Veterans' Memorial Scenic Highway 6.9 mi 7m
Country Club Boulevard 1.4 mi 1m
East Park Avenue 0.7 mi 1m
10th Avenue South 0.7 mi <1m
4th Street South 0.4 mi 1m
I 15 BUS 0.4 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 15 — 153.5 mi, about 2h 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Anaconda, MT and Great Falls, MT.

1

Start on MT 1

107 ft · 7 sec · East Commercial Avenue
2

Turn left onto Ash Street

383 ft · 22 sec · Ash Street
3

Turn left onto MT 1

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Park Avenue
4

Continue on MT 1

6.9 mi · 7 min · Pintler Veterans' Memorial Scenic Highway
5

Keep slight right at fork

0.7 mi · 59 sec
6

Merge onto I 90

13 mi · 12 min · I 90
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 15; I 90

4.8 mi · 5 min · I 15; I 90
8

Take the exit onto I 15

149 mi · 2 hr 24 min · I 15
Exit 129 Toward I 15 North: Helena Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit onto I 15 BUS

0.4 mi · 49 sec · I 15 BUS
Toward I 15 Business, US 89 South, MT 200 East
10

Continue on I 15 Bus; US 89; MT 3; MT 200; I 315

1.4 mi · 1 min · Country Club Boulevard
11

Continue on I 15 Business; US 89; MT 3; MT 200

0.7 mi · 57 sec · 10th Avenue South
12

Turn left onto 4th Street South

0.4 mi · 1 min · 4th Street South
13

Arrive at destination

4th Street South

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 89 miles from Anaconda, MT, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 153.5 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 39 miles or 40m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 89 miles or 1h 28m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 24m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Great Falls, MT than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Anaconda, MT so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Anaconda, MT

This is one driving day of about 178.1 miles and 2h 57m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Anaconda, MT.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 15 for about 153.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 89 mi from Anaconda, MT · 1h 28m into the drive

Downtown Clancy, MT, MT

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Clancy, MT

89 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Butte, MT

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 39 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Clancy, MT

Meal break

The midpoint is around 89 miles from Anaconda, MT, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 15 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 153.5 miles.

Arriving in Great Falls, MT

The final approach into Great Falls, MT usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Great Falls, MT.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Dickey's Barbecue Pit

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Butte, Montana

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 25.4

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14062217250

Visit website

Hanging Five Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Butte, Montana

0.2 mi

Jordi's Cantina & Sports Bar

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Anaconda, Montana

0.1 mi

Top Coffee Stop

Crooked Tree Coffee Downtown

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Great Falls, Montana

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 178.1

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+14063151221

Visit website

Great Harvest Bread Co.

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Great Falls, Montana

0.5 mi

The Driftwood

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Helena, Montana

0.1 mi

Dickey's Barbecue Pit

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 25.4

Butte, Montana

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14062217250

Visit website

Hanging Five Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 25.4

Butte, Montana

Hours: 6 am–10 pm

+14064944309

Visit website

Jordi's Cantina & Sports Bar

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Anaconda, Montana

Hours: 7 am–8 pm

+14065630134

Visit website

Electric City Coffee, Coffee House and Bakery

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 178.1

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 7 am–3 pm

+14064524529

Visit website

Three Amigos Mexican Restaurant, Cantina, and Casino

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route $10 to $20 mile 25.4

Butte, Montana

Hours: 11 am–8:30 pm

+14064946677

Visit website

Overland Express Restaurant and Lounge

4.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $20 to $30 mile 89

Helena, Montana

Hours: 11:30 am–9 pm

+14064492635

Visit website

Melaque Mexican Restaurant

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 89

Helena, Montana

Hours: 11 am–9 pm

+14064221695

Visit website

Peppermint Paddy’s

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20

Anaconda, Montana

Hours: 11 am–8 pm

+14065637428

Visit website

Crooked Tree Coffee Downtown

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $1 to $10 mile 178.1

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 7 am–2 pm

+14063151221

Visit website

Great Harvest Bread Co.

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 178.1

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 6 am–5 pm

+14064526941

Visit website

The Driftwood

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.1 mi from route $1 to $10 mile 89

Helena, Montana

Hours: 6 am–12 pm

honey hippo. Play Café

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour $10 to $20 mile 178.1

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 9 am–7 pm

+14069520209

Visit website

406 bistro | coffee & catering

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour

Anaconda, Montana

+14062980605

Visit website

Morning Light Coffee Roasters

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 178.1

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 6 am–4 pm

+14064538443

Visit website

Sue's Brewed Awakenins

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour $1 to $10

Anaconda, Montana

Hours: 5:30 am–5:30 pm

+14065604502

Visit website

True Brew Espresso

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour $1 to $10 mile 178.1

Great Falls, MT

Hours: 5:30 am–4 pm

+14067703121

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.1 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, right off the route

0.2 mi from route mile 25.4

Butte, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

AmpUp Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, right off the route

0.6 mi from route ~2 min detour

Anaconda, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18039449666

Visit website

Tesla Destination Charger

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 178.1

Great Falls, Montana

+14069524444

Visit website

ChargePoint Charging Station

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.3 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 89

Helena, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18887584389

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 89

Helena, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Tesla Supercharger

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the end, short detour

2.1 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 178.1

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

Visit website

Electrify America Charging Station

4.2 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, short detour

2.3 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 89

Helena, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18336322778

Visit website

Blink Charging Station

1.0 ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Near the end, short detour

1.1 mi from route ~3 min detour mile 178.1

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: Open 24 hours

+18889982546

Visit website

Duck Pond | Gibson Park

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.8 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 178.1

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 6 am–9:30 pm

+14067711265

Visit website

Haute Hive

5.0 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.5 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 178.1

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 8 am–5 pm

+14069524663

Visit website

Bloom and Bean

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 178.1

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 9 am–6 pm

+14063151609

Visit website

Escape the Falls Escape Rooms

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 178.1

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 1–8:30 pm

+14062858410

Visit website

Last Chance Tours

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.9 mi from route ~2 min detour mile 89

Helena, Montana

Hours: 8 am–3 pm

+14064421023

Visit website

In Cahoots for Tea

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

0.4 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 178.1

Great Falls, Montana

Hours: 10 am–4:30 pm

+14064522225

Visit website

Silver Saddle Bar & Cafe

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

1.6 mi from route ~4 min detour $10 to $20 mile 50.9

Basin, Montana

Hours: 8 am–8 pm

+14062259995

Visit website

ExplorationWorks

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

1.9 mi from route ~5 min detour mile 89

Helena, Montana

Hours: 10 am–5 pm

+14064571800

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$28.22 one way

$56.45 round trip

$4.03/gal 25.4 MPG avg 62 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.22 $29.58 $59.17
premium $4.53 $31.77 $63.54
diesel $5.61 $39.32 $78.64

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$28

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$53–$78

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 62.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 53.4 0 $18.70 $8.55
Efficient EV 44.5 0 $15.58 $7.12
EV Truck/SUV 71.2 0 $24.93 $11.40

Gas CO2

62 kg

EV CO2

21 kg (66% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026

Origin

Anaconda, MT

Morning in Anaconda on Saturday

Local time

7:46 AM

MDT

Current temp

56°F

Sunny

WSW 2 to 9 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Destination

Great Falls, MT

Morning in Great Falls on Saturday

Local time

7:46 AM

MDT

Current temp

26°F

Mostly Clear

SW 8 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

30 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 57m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Anaconda, MT to Great Falls, MT covers 178.1 miles and takes about 2h 57m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 15, I 90, Pintler Veterans' Memorial Scenic Highway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 89 miles from Anaconda, MT. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $28.22 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

This is a straightforward 2h 57m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (Ash Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.1 miles (MT 1 / East Park Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 7.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

The route from Anaconda, MT to Great Falls, MT does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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